Inspector Calls Flashcards
How does Priestly present ‘responsibility’ as a theme?
The play shows how people are responsible for their actions and how their decisions can make terrible consequences on other peoples lives
How does Priestly present ‘power’ as a theme?
The play shows that those people who are wealthy and have power are able to affect the lives of poorer people with little challenge.
How does Priestly present ‘Rights of Wokers’ as a theme?
The play demonstrates that when workers do not have full employment rights they can be dismissed from their jobs easily and can’t fight back.
How does Priestly present ‘Honesty and Truth’ as a theme?
The characters in the play all have to face the truth about the consequences of their actions although some find it hard to accept.
How does Priestly present ‘Poverty and Wealth’ as a theme?
The play shows us that those who are wealthy have a responsibility to those who are poor in society especially when they employ them.
Why does Priestly use a three act structure?
The first two acts each end with a dramatic moment of suspense keeping the audience interested and the play ends with the surprise phone call.
Why does Priestly use language of characters?
The way each character speaks tells us a lot about what they are like, for example the Inspector speaks confidently and Eric sounds nervous.
Why does Priestly use Time in the play?
The play uses time to create mystery because the Inspector comes to question everyone before Eva’s suicide and events begin repeating at the end.
Why does Priestly use symbolism and imagery?
The Inspector uses the image of people being part of one body to show how every person depends on and is responsible for others.
Why does Priestly use euphemisms?
The play is set a hundred years ago when people used euphemisms such as ‘women of the town’ (p. 34) to disguise the fact that they were referring to prostitution.
When WW1 Broke out, what did priestly do?
He dropped out of university and joined the infantry because wanted to get a better feel of the world. (but later finished his university degree)
When was ‘An Inspector Calls” written/performed?
1945
When was ‘An inspector Calls” set?
1912
What did Priestly become very concerned about in the 1930’s?
the consequences of social inequality in Britain
What was the name of the political party that priestly set up? What did they argue?
the Common Wealth Party - which argued for public ownership of land, greater democracy, and a new ‘morality’ in politics.
Why did priestly incorporate ww1 into the play?
Birling’s optimistic view that there would not be a war is completely wrong.
When the war ended in 1945, people were recovering from nearly six years of warfare, danger and uncertainty.
Why did priestly incorporate social hierarchy?
Because there were strong distinctions between the upper and lower classes.
In 1945, there were strong distinctions between the upper and lower classes
Why did priestly make Mrs. Birling so similar to Mr. Birling? Why are their views so traditional?
Women were subservient to men. All a well off women could do was get married; a poor woman was seen as cheap labour.
In 1945, as a result of the wars, women had earned a more valued place in society.
Why didn’t Sheila or Eric laugh at the end of the play like the others?
The ruling classes ( as well as older generation) saw no need to change the status quo.
However there was a great desire for social change. Immediately after The Second World War, the Labour Party won a landslide victory over the Conservatives.
Why did priestly set his play in 1912 rather than 1945, when it was written?
because the date represented an era when all was very different from the time he was writing. In 1912, rigid class and gender boundaries seemed to ensure that nothing would change. Yet by 1945, most of those class and gender divisions had been breached
What was Priestly trying to say to the readers in 1945?
to seize the opportunity the end of the war had given them to build a better, more caring society, and to change everyone’s capitalist views.
How does Priestly show that Arthur Birling is selfish?
He claims the party “is one of the happiest nights of my life.” This is not only because Sheila will be happy, but because a merger with Crofts Limited will be good for his business.
He wants to protect himself and his family. He believes that socialist ideas that stress the importance of the community are “nonsense” and that “a man has to make his own way.” This makes him selfish
How does Priestly use Mr. Birling to send his message through?
He represents how the upper class frowned upon people below them in society.
Priestley wanted to encourage his audience to dislike Mr Birling and to see him as a fool – by rejecting the attitudes held by Mr Birling, Priestley’s audience could lead a better life.
Throughout the play, Priestley makes it clear that there is a consequence for every action. Through Mr Birling’s thoughtless actions of firing Eva Smith, Priestley portrayed the evil side of money and capitalism, as well as his dislike for capitalism due to the lack of care in society for the poor.
What are key Mr. Birling quotes?
‘look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices. ’
‘Fiddlesticks! The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war.’
‘I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward’
